In civil aviation and airport rankings, which airport was declared the “Best Airport in India and Central Asia” in the Skytrax World Airport Awards?

Introduction / Context:
International airport rankings, such as those released by Skytrax, are widely cited to measure service quality and passenger experience. For aspirants of general knowledge based exams, remembering which Indian airports have received prestigious awards is important. The question asks specifically about the airport declared the “Best Airport in India and Central Asia” by the Skytrax World Airport Awards, which focuses on customer satisfaction, facilities, and overall performance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The award is given by Skytrax, a global air transport rating organisation.
• The title mentioned is “Best Airport in India and Central Asia.”
• The options include major Indian airports and one international airport from Malaysia.
• We assume the ranking year is the period referred to in most exam oriented current affairs, where this particular award gained attention.

Concept / Approach:
This is a static current affairs recall question. The correct approach is to know or remember which Indian airport has consistently appeared at the top of Skytrax rankings for the region that includes India and Central Asia. Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi has repeatedly won such recognition, particularly for its large modern terminals and passenger facilities, which makes it the prime candidate among the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, and Goa International Airport are Indian airports, while Kuala Lumpur International Airport is in Malaysia and not in India or Central Asia.Step 2: Note that the award mentioned is “Best Airport in India and Central Asia,” so the winner must be located in this geographical region.Step 3: Recall that Skytrax rankings during the relevant period consistently placed Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, at the top for India and Central Asia.Step 4: Compare this memory with the options and confirm that Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, matches the description exactly.Step 5: Select Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this fact from multiple reliable sources covering aviation awards, which highlight New Delhi as a major hub with high passenger satisfaction. The airport has repeatedly featured in Skytrax rankings as the best in India and Central Asia. By contrast, Hyderabad and Goa are well regarded but have not usually taken the top regional spot in this particular award category, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport belongs to a different country and region altogether.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad) is incorrect because although it has good facilities, it has not been declared the best airport in India and Central Asia in the relevant Skytrax award. Option C (Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia) is not even in India or Central Asia, so it does not fit the regional category mentioned. Option D (Goa International Airport, Goa) is a busy tourist airport but has not earned this specific Skytrax award as the best in India and Central Asia.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent confusion is between Hyderabad and New Delhi airports because both receive positive reviews. Another pitfall is ignoring the phrase “India and Central Asia” and focusing only on Indian airports. Some candidates may also be misled by the inclusion of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which is a famous hub, but it is outside the specified region. Careful reading of the award title and remembering specific rankings helps avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, which was declared the “Best Airport in India and Central Asia” in the Skytrax World Airport Awards.